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Science News for April 23, 2014


Male-biased tweeting

A study found that Twitter conversations among men feature fewer mentions of women compared to female-female conversations. The Bechdel test was applied to analyze the gender bias in social media platforms, revealing a male-biased environment on Twitter.

Autologous stem cell therapy improves motor function in chronic stroke victims

A study published in Cell Transplantation found that injecting autologous peripheral blood stem cells into the brain of stroke patients improved their motor function. The treatment was safe and feasible in patients who suffered a prior stroke, with significant improvements in clinical outcomes measures.

Male or female?

Researchers have identified two independent sex-determining genes, SRY and AMHY, that emerged around 180 million years ago in the common ancestor of mammals. These genes are responsible for testicular development and determine an individual's sex.

EMBO Gold Medal 2014 awarded to Sophie Martin

Sophie Martin received the 2014 EMBO Gold Medal for her groundbreaking research on cellular polarity, which has renewed interest in mechanisms of cell size regulation. Her work revealed a potential mechanism by which microtubules direct actin cytoskeleton-driven cell growth.

SourceEMBO·DateApr 23, 2014

Liquid spacetime

Researchers Stefano Liberati and Luca Maccione suggest spacetime is a fluid with extremely low viscosity, contradicting Einstein's special relativity. This emergent model predicts novel effects on photon propagation, which could be observable with future astrophysical studies.

SourceInternational School of Advanced Studies (SISSA)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 23, 2014

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology: Vitamin D supplements have little effect on risk of falls in older people

A new meta-analysis suggests that vitamin D supplements do not prevent falls by 15% or more, leaving uncertainty about their benefits for vulnerable older people. The analysis of 20 randomised controlled trials involving over 29,500 participants found no evidence to support the use of vitamin D supplements to reduce fall risk.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology·DateApr 23, 2014

Impact of whooping cough vaccination revealed

A comprehensive genomic analysis of Bordetella pertussis bacteria reveals the impact of vaccination on its spread and diversification. The study shows that vaccination has dramatically reduced rates of infection and loss of life from whooping cough, but strategies used to date have not completely eradicated strains of the bacteria.

Halving hydrogen

Researchers have successfully captured a view of a molecular catalyst that converts hydrogen into electricity, confirming previous hypotheses and providing insight into its structure. The study's findings offer potential improvements to hydrogen-powered fuel cells, which could be more expensive but also carbon-neutral.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateApr 23, 2014

ASTRO issues guideline on the role of postoperative radiation therapy for endometrial cancer

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has issued a new guideline detailing the use of adjuvant radiation therapy in treating endometrial cancer. The guideline recommends postoperative external beam radiation for patients with early-stage disease, and vaginal cuff brachytherapy for those at high risk of vaginal recurrence.

SourceAmerican Society for Radiation Oncology·JournalPractical Radiation Oncology·DateApr 23, 2014

Cyber buddy is better than 'no buddy'

A Michigan State University researcher found that software-generated partners can be effective motivators during exercise, outperforming 'no buddy' conditions. The study, published in the Games for Health Journal, suggests potential applications for fitness game developers and may improve exercise outcomes.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalGames for Health Journal·DateApr 23, 2014

Ravens understand the relations among others

Researchers found that ravens can deduce the rank relations of individuals in their own group as well as neighboring groups. They exhibited stress-related behaviors when encountering unexpected dominance reversals. This cognitive ability is similar to that of primates and suggests a complex social intelligence.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 23, 2014

Picture books aren't just fun

A new study from the University of Waterloo reveals that reading picture books with toddlers exposes them to sophisticated information about animals in a way that allows children to apply this knowledge broadly. Moms use generics and provide facts about animals when reading picture book stories.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateApr 23, 2014

Fires in the Primorsky Province of Russia

Human-caused fires in the Primorsky Province of Russia are ravaging the landscape, with statistics showing that 94% of forest fires can be attributed to human activities. The uncontrolled burning of dry grass for centuries has led to widespread deforestation and degradation of forests, posing a significant threat to various species.

On the defensive

Researchers found that protein aggregates in Huntington's disease are not toxic, but rather a defense mechanism for stressed brain cells. This discovery may lead to new therapeutic approaches by targeting the stress response instead of protein clusters.

Quality control guidelines for genomics studies

The proposed guidelines focus on study design, gene-variant implication, and database implications, emphasizing the need for detailed statistical analysis and evidence-based claims. Researchers highlight the importance of sharing genetic and clinical data to accelerate research and infrastructure development.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalNature·DateApr 23, 2014

Pollutants from coal-burning stoves strongly associated with miscarriages in Mongolia

A study by Children's Hospital Los Angeles found strong correlations between seasonal ambient air pollutants and pregnancy loss in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The researchers discovered a striking seasonal pattern of variation in miscarriage incidence, with increases in December due to increased hours of darkness and coldest temperatures.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth·DateApr 23, 2014

Citizen scientists match research tool when counting sharks

Researchers found a strong correlation between shark abundance observed by citizen scientists and those identified by telemetry, suggesting that citizen science can be a cost-effective means to monitor shark populations. The study also showed that shark behavior was unaffected by tourist divers' presence.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 23, 2014